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Nigerian Chess Federation (NCF) collects positive aspects of the FIDE awards awarded to two of the country’s young people, Sandra Osarugue Omoruyi and Odey Goodness Ekunke, citing them as important indicators of the growing impact of sport in the country.
Sports247 reports that apart from enjoying the limelight as young members of the Nigerian team at the recent 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Omoruyi and Ekunke left the venue with personal upgrades to their international statuses.
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Omoruyi is now recognized as a high-profile Female Master Candidate (WCM), while Ekunke has earned the esteemed Master Candidate (CM) title, confirming important strides for both young players on the prestigious world chess scene.
Responding to the developments, NCF Secretary General Ejiro Thukson IV noted that the global recognition achieved by Omoruyi and Ekunke are indicators of better days for Nigeria in major chess competitions and significant achievements for the country at this year’s FIDE Olympiad.
Although the country’s contingent failed to secure any podium spots in the elite competition, which featured 208 teams in the open section and 192 in the women’s event, Thukson IV emphasized that it demonstrated how the future of Nigerian chess continues to take shape.
Thukson IV replied: “The emergence of new titled players like Omoruyi and Ekunke provides another important story for Samarkand, along with the experience gained by the national team in general.
“The titles are particularly significant in the context of the progress both players have made. Ekunke, born in 2011, had already established himself as one of Nigeria’s brightest young players before arriving in Samarkand.
“At the Olympiad, the young man once again demonstrated his quality, scoring 6 points in 11 games, including victories over players from New Caledonia, Saudi Arabia, Malawi, Guyana and Tunisia, as well as a draw against the Cuban GM Aramis Álvarez Pedraza.
“Omoruyi was equally outstanding. She scored 6 points in 10 matches, recording six wins, including a crucial victory against Syria in the final round. Her performance was one of the strongest individual results in the Nigerian women’s field.
Other members also produced notable performances. WIM Bridget Michael finished the women’s competition with 5½ points from nine games, while WFM Deborah Quickpen and WFM Michelle Chiamaka Nwankwo both finished with 4½ points.
“In the Open section, FM Abdulrahman Akintoye also recorded 5½ points, while IM Odion Aikhoje finished with 4½ points. FM Bomo Lovet Kigigha contributed 4½ points, with Ekunke leading the Nigerians with six points.”
Sports247, however, concluded that the final ranking did not reflect the valiant efforts of everyone in the Nigerian contingent as the women finished in 85th place with 11 match points, while the men placed 118th with 10 match points after 11 rounds.
Despite the country’s shockingly low rankings, the NCF scribe insists that it was a brave outing for the contingent and enthuses that many rays of hope emerged to indicate better days for Nigeria in the brilliant display of global chess.
